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{{Infobox Romanian subdivision
|type               = commune
|county             = Harghita
|name               = Dârjiu
|other_name         = Székelyderzs
|image_flag         =
|image_shield       =
|image_skyline      = Szekelyderzs 01.jpg
|image_caption      = 13th Century UNESCO World Heritage [[Dârjiu fortified church|fortified Unitarian Church]], and some geese
|image_map=Darjiu jud Harghita.png
|map_caption        = Location in Harghita County
|leader_name        = Adrián István<ref>{{cite web |url=https://prezenta.roaep.ro/locale27092020/romania-pv-final |title=Results of the 2020 local elections |publisher=Central Electoral Bureau |access-date=8 June 2021 |df=dmy-all}}</ref>
|leader_party       = UDMR
|term               = 2020&ndash;2024
|coordinates        = {{coord|46|12|N|25|12|E|region:RO|display=inline,title}}
|elevation          = 555
|elevation_min      =
|elevation_max      =
|area_total         = 41.96
|area_footnotes     =
|population_as_of   =
|population_total   = auto
|population_footnotes =
|postal_code        = 537075
|area_code          = (+40) 0266
|website            = {{URL|https://szekelyderzs.com/}}
}}
'''Dârjiu''' ({{langx|hu|Székelyderzs}}, <small>Hungarian pronunciation: </small>{{convertIPA-hu|’|sz|é|k|e|ly|d|e|r|zs}}) is a commune in [[Harghita County]], [[Romania]]. It lies in the [[Székely Land]], an ethno-cultural region in eastern [[Transylvania]].<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://romaniatourism.com/castles-fortresses-romania-darjiu-fortified-church.html|title=Darjiu Fortified Church - Castles and Fortresses in Transylvania, Romania. Romania UNESCO World Heritage Sites|website=romaniatourism.com|access-date=2019-06-17}}</ref> The commune is composed of two villages, Dârjiu (''Székelyderzs'') and Mujna (Székelymuzsna), both of which are on the route of the [[Via Transilvanica]] [[long-distance trail]].<ref>{{Cite web |title=Terra Siculorum {{!}} Via Transilvanica |url=https://www.viatransilvanica.com/ro/tinuturi/terra-siculorum/ |access-date=2023-08-14 |website=www.viatransilvanica.com |language=ro}}</ref>
== Name ==
The Hungarian name ''Székelyderzs'' was first mentioned as "De ers" in a papal list of tithes taken in 1334. In 1525, it was recorded as ''Ders'', while in 1760, it was already mentioned by its modern Hungarian name of ''Székely Derzs''. The name ''Derzs'' is thought to be from the [[Bulgar language|Old Bulgar]].<ref name="János András Vistai">{{cite web |author=János András Vistai |title=Tekintő – Erdélyi Helynévkönyv}}[http://www.fatornyosfalunk.com/helynevkonyv_-_1._kotet_A-H.pdf Transylvanian Toponym Book] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110710230653/http://www.fatornyosfalunk.com/helynevkonyv_-_1._kotet_A-H.pdf|date=2011-07-10}}</ref>
==Demographics==
At the [[2011 Romanian census|2011 census]], the commune had a population of 1,036, of which 91.51% were [[Hungarians in Romania|Hungarians]], 5.69% [[Romani people in Romania|Roma]], and 1.35% [[Romanians]];<ref>[http://www.recensamantromania.ro/rezultate-2/ Tab8. Populația stabilă după etnie – județe, municipii, orașe, comune], 2011 census results, [[National Institute of Statistics (Romania)|Institutul Național de Statistică]], accessed 20 February 2020.</ref> 60.62% of the inhabitants were [[Unitarian Church of Transylvania|Unitarian]], 20.46% [[Reformed Church in Romania|Reformed]], 7.34% [[Catholic Church in Romania|Roman Catholic]], 3.96% [[Union of Christian Baptist Churches in Romania|Baptists]], and 1.83% [[Romanian Orthodox Church|Romanian Orthodox]].<ref>[http://www.recensamantromania.ro/rezultate-2/ Tab13. Populația stabilă după religie – județe, municipii, orașe, comune], 2011 census results, [[National Institute of Statistics (Romania)|Institutul Național de Statistică]], accessed 20 February 2020.</ref> At the [[2021 Romanian census|2021 census]], Dârjiu had a population of 851; of those, 92.6% were Hungarians and 1.41% Romanians.<ref name="RPL2021">{{cite web|url=https://www.recensamantromania.ro/wp-content/uploads/2023/05/Tabel-1.03_1.3.1-si-1.03.2.xls|title=Populația rezidentă după grupa de vârstă, pe județe și municipii, orașe, comune, la 1 decembrie 2021|publisher=[[National Institute of Statistics (Romania)|INSSE]]|language=ro|date=31 May 2023}}</ref>
==History==
[[Image:derzs1.jpg|thumb|left|250px|The Unitarian Church]]
The village is home to the [[Dârjiu fortified church]], a 13th-century fortified [[Unitarian Church of Transylvania|Unitarian]] Church, which is on [[UNESCO]]'s [[World Heritage List]].
Unitariansm was an official religion in [[Transylvania]] from the 1583 [[Mediaş|Medgyes]] parliament. The first bishop was [[Ferenc Dávid]], a local Hungarian-speaking [[Transylvanian Saxons|Saxon]]. The first appointed ruler of Transylvania was the Unitarian [[John II Sigismund Zápolya]],<ref>[http://www.readthespirit.com/interfaith_heroes/2009/01/2nd-annual-interfaith-heroes-month-no-12-queen-isabella-king-john.html Queen Isabella and King John] {{webarchive|url=https://archive.today/20120909101443/http://www.readthespirit.com/interfaith_heroes/2009/01/2nd-annual-interfaith-heroes-month-no-12-queen-isabella-king-john.html |date=2012-09-09 }}</ref> son of the Hungarian king [[John Zápolya]] (1526&ndash;1541).
The villages were historically part of the [[Székely Land]] region of [[Transylvania]] province. They belonged to [[Udvarhelyszék]] district until the administrative reform of Transylvania in 1876, when they fell within the [[Udvarhely County]] in the [[Kingdom of Hungary]]. After the [[Hungarian–Romanian War]] of 1919 and the [[Treaty of Trianon]] of 1920, they became part of the [[Kingdom of Romania]] and fell within [[Plasă|plasa]] Odorhei of [[Odorhei County]] during the interwar period. In 1940, the [[second Vienna Award]] granted the [[Northern Transylvania]] to Hungary and the villages were held by Hungary until September 1944, when Romanian and Soviet troops regained control during World War II. After a brief Soviet occupation, the Romanian administration returned in March 1945. Between 1952 and 1960, the commune fell within the [[Magyar Autonomous Region]], between 1960 and 1968 the Mureș-Magyar Autonomous Region. In 1968, the region was abolished, and since then, the commune has been part of Harghita County.
== Heartland of Unitarianism ==
Between 80,000 and 100,000 [[Unitarianism|Unitarians]] live in the geographical region of Transylvania, mostly between [[Sighișoara]] and [[Odorheiu Secuiesc]], more or less around Dârjiu. Further east, Hungarians are [[Roman Catholicism in Romania|Roman Catholics]] with [[Reformed Church in Hungary|Calvinist]] enclaves, e.g., in the former [[Háromszék County]], while the former [[Csík County]] is solidly Roman Catholic.
The murals of the Unitarian church show the legend of [[Ladislaus I of Hungary]]. When the [[Cumans]] broke into [[Kingdom of Hungary]], Ladislaus, still a Duke, along with his cousin  ([[Solomon of Hungary|King Salamon I]]) rode against them and freed a girl believed to be daughter of an aristocrat from a Cuman. Unhappily enough, the girl did not support this act of the future Saint.
Further murals in the region are to be found at Unitarian churches in [[Mugeni]], [[Ocland|Crăciunel]] (Karácsonyfalva), and smaller ones in [[Șimonești|Rugănești]] (Rugonfalva) and [[Cristuru Secuiesc]] (Székelykeresztúr). Saxon murals are most significant in [[Laslea|Mălâncrav]] (Szászszentlászló).
== Twinning ==
{{Flagicon|Hungary}} [[Darány]], [[Hungary]]
The local Unitarian community has relationship with the [[Unitarian Universalism|Unitarian Universalist Church]] in Cherry Hill, New Jersey, USA.
==See also==
* [[List of castles in Romania]]
* [[Tourism in Romania]]
* [[Villages with fortified churches in Transylvania]]
;Old Transylvanian churches with murals
*[[Ghelința]], St. Emeric Church: 13th-century murals
*[[Laslea]], Mălâncrav church: early 14th- and 15th-century murals
*[[Church on the Hill (Sighișoara)]], 14th-16th century murals
== External links ==
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20120827003920/http://szekelyderzs.com/languages/english/english.html The Unitarian fortified church] {{in lang|en}}
== Gallery ==
<gallery>
Image:derzsx.jpg|Unitarian church
Image:derzs6.jpg|Façade of the Unitarian church
Image:derzs4.jpg|Murals on the St. Ladislaus legend
Image:derzs3.jpg|Murals on the St. Ladislaus legend
Image:derzs101.jpg|Fight of Ladislaus with the Cuman
Image:derzs102.jpg|Death of the Cuman warrior
Image:Josephinische Landaufnahme pg193.jpg|The village on the Josephinische Landaufnahme, 1769-1773
</gallery>
== References ==
{{Wikivoyage}}
<references/>
{{Communes of Harghita County}}
{{World Heritage Sites in Romania}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Darjiu}}
[[Category:Communes in Harghita County]]
[[Category:Localities in Transylvania]]
[[Category:Villages with fortified churches in Transylvania]]
[[Category:Székely communities]]